Connecting the DoTs: A Summoner Guide

[pandabearcat]

You use painflare to burst down adds that you don't have time to dot up (for instance, Bio > Painflare > Ruin II is a good rotation on those adds).

One thing I have not been able to test, can you bane dots from an invulnerable target to noninvulnerable targets?

I am unable to tell if bane is an attack on the target itself or all the targets surrounding.

[Minorinz]

You use painflare to burst down adds that you don't have time to dot up (for instance, Bio > Painflare > Ruin II is a good rotation on those adds).

One thing I have not been able to test, can you bane dots from an invulnerable target to noninvulnerable targets?

I am unable to tell if bane is an attack on the target itself or all the targets surrounding.

if you are talking about how the t12 mechanic worked before they fixed it, yeah it does and if you are having t2/a2 in mind then yeah it should work.

[Minorinz]

You use painflare to burst down adds that you don't have time to dot up (for instance, Bio > Painflare > Ruin II is a good rotation on those adds).

One thing I have not been able to test, can you bane dots from an invulnerable target to noninvulnerable targets?

I am unable to tell if bane is an attack on the target itself or all the targets surrounding.

Oh yeah you can, T10 boss goes inv when he summons adds I always bane from him and it works fine. I kept thinking you meant inv debuff.

[Aerya]

Hello!

I'm currently a lvl 60 PLD and I would like to take one of my DPS classes up to lvl 60 too.

I have almost all DPS classes at lvl 50 (except BLM and MCH) and my former main was the BRD (but I don't like the changes to the class, so I don't think I'll take it to lvl 60). I'm really interested in the Summoner... Could someone tell me what the 50-60 changes feel like for this class? How does the SMN play now? Is it fun and/or useful in a team? Back in 2.x I didn't really like the lack of burst, which made some content a lot harder for the team... I've heard this was fixed?

[Koyuki38]

Hello!

I'm currently a lvl 60 PLD and I would like to take one of my DPS classes up to lvl 60 too.

I have almost all DPS classes at lvl 50 (except BLM and MCH) and my former main was the BRD (but I don't like the changes to the class, so I don't think I'll take it to lvl 60). I'm really interested in the Summoner... Could someone tell me what the 50-60 changes feel like for this class? How does the SMN play now? Is it fun and/or useful in a team? Back in 2.x I didn't really like the lack of burst, which made some content a lot harder for the team... I've heard this was fixed?

SMN is much more harder than before, but much more powerful too.
He now has tools to burst targets in case there is not time for doting, but still can't do it all day (painflare AOE using 1 stack, Deathflare 1 time/minute average, Ruin 3 with high cost if not used during DWT, Tri-D 1 min cd).
Anyway, using this tools on another target than the boss leads to some dps loss.
Our best rotation on dummy is using all new spells added to our skillset.


About rotation changes : before 3.0 we had 'priority gameplay'.
Now we have same priorities (dot, filler and AF burst), but we have a new mechanic added to it : Dreadwyrm-Transe (DWT).

We have to manage our AF stacks utilisation in order to optimize them. Basically we try to use AF during DWT to get the maximum damage output (fester 300 becomes 330 potency with DWT), while this same AF utilisation is used to build the next Transe incoming the next minute.

[Reneo]

So what is the full rotation for SMN with dreadworm stance? My significant other is somewhat confuse on rotations about SMN since dreadwyrm stance was added?

[pandabearcat]

There are really only 2 main differences between 2.5 and 3.0

1. Aethertrail upkeep. You never want it to drop. If this means throwing out a painflare right before downtime, do it.
2. The DT "burn" phase. You want to use this when 1, all dots (including sflare) are >15 seconds and/or 2, you have RS for it, and 3, you have enough stand still time to go through the full rotation OR there are enough adds to warrant an early Deathflare.

Of the two, 1 is far more important. Ideally you want to never use your 3rd aetherflow charge except to refresh Aethertrail, or right before AF comes off cooldown so you never run into a situation where there will be downtime and you have to let 1 (or god forbid 2) stacks drop.

NEVER let 3 stacks drop. If it is about to drop, pop DT early and then use deathflare at 1 second, if there is any target to hit at all.

Note: refreshing dots during DT is still a dps gain over just Ruin III spam, but is a dps loss in total.

If you want max dps during DT, usually what you'll do is

Bio (so refreshed to 18 sec) > DT > Fester > Ruin IIIx5 > Ruin II > Fester > Deathflare

This also means that

1. You've managed to refresh AT all the way till another AF cooldown
2. Fester is off CD by the time you cast DT

This is what most people consider the "best" DT rotation, so you want to pace your Fester usage around 1 minute. Since you use 2 festers right after each other, you'll want to use your 3rd fester around 40 second mark, to make sure AT lasts past the next AF cd.

Notable big disconnects:

1. Bismarck EX - after serpent adds die. Extremely long (about 20 sec) disconnect here. You need to fester or maybe even painflare the last serpent add. Safe an AF (you should be doing this anyway) until the last second. Possibly after each set of small adds, before carapace, depending on how fast your group kills them. However, this should not be an actual issue.

2. Ravana - every liberation. You should refresh AT right before he disappears. This ensures you have enough time to keep AT through the entire liberation phase. Also, obviously his ultimate. You need to refresh right before he finishes the cast.

3. Alex - who cares. Fist - every blast off. Cuff - never. Arm - never, though you may want to try to time deathflare/painflare/bane with the double hand. Burden - if you anticipate going to the tunnel.

Another new addition is tri-disaster. You really only want to use it under 2 conditions

1. Add needs to burn asap (moon gana on Rav ex)
2. You just disconnected from boss (Bismarck carapace, Rav liberation).
3. If you are SURE none of the above 2 apply, use it right after you pop DT so you're sure that you have full Ruin III time (and buffed dots, the rotation is Ruin II > DT > Tri-D > Fester > Ruin IIIx5 > Ruin II > Fester). If you're sure for this, do not refresh dots for 2 GCD before.

[Suavador]

Just a question, but do you have any videos of spell speed testing affecting pets? I did some testing today and I haven't found anything about spell speed affecting pets at all.

EDIT: The only thing I found were the non GCD moves like Aerial Slash being affected by spell speed, however they always were. I dont think Windblade/Burning Strike are affected by it

[Startropic]

So what kinda food should we be looking at?

I've looked around, but I can't find anything about what's our best stats at the moment, might be i'm not seeing it, so I apologize if it was in front of my face on any of the guides. :/

[OneWingedSora]

So what kinda food should we be looking at?

I've looked around, but I can't find anything about what's our best stats at the moment, might be i'm not seeing it, so I apologize if it was in front of my face on any of the guides. :/

I am using Baked Pipira Pira HQ for Summoner at the moment. 37 crit and 18 accuracy.